How do I tell if my katana is full tang or not?

Question

Okay, so I was at this knife shop at a swap meet the other day and I picked up a katana. It was only 34 bucks. So I know that it's not any sort of real quality sword. But when I got it I didn't know much about them, but I've been reading about them on the internet. So now I'm curious about whether or not it has a full tang, but I don't know how to figure out without mutilating the sword. Any ideas?

okay, so if the guy who said that an x-ray would probably be the only way...anyone know where they would let me use an x-ray machine? (and not charge me more than the price of the cheapo sword lol)

Answer 1

If it is a fake then taking it apart will probably be mutiliating it.

however if it is a "fake" then mutilating it is exactly what you should do.

Odds are if you paid $34 for it it IS a fake.

A real katana can be taken apart and the "pins" replaced with no problem. (forgot what they are called, I know the decorative metal placed on the hilt are called "minuki".

names of parts of japanese sword:

http://swordforum.com/sfu/japanese/anatomy.html

Tang discussion on japanese sword:

http://swordforum.com/sfu/japanese/tangs.html

steels for japanese swords:
http://swordforum.com/sfu/japanese/modern-steels.html

additional information on heat treatment:
http://swordforum.com/sfu/primer/heattreatment.html

If I were you I would just put the sword-like object up on the wall and use it as a decoration. Trying to cut with it could cause the blade to snap due to any number of reasons for crappy quality resulting in everyone's favorite home shopping network clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s0dRcdyizU


There is nothing wrong with owning a wall-hanger, I myself owned two before giving them to ex girlfriends.

The problem I have with walhangers is not that they exist, it is that the people who sell them try to pawn them off as real swords to dupe the unwary. Since you bought it at a "swap meet" while it is statistically possible for you to find a well made or decent made sword at such a "flea market" type of place, the fact that you bought it from a knife shop makes it even less likely as they would be able to tell quality steel (knife steel is different than sword however) or at least to know to seek another opinion if they didn't know.

If you got it from some guy who said it was lingering from WW2 in his grandfather's garage- then you got a different history.

If you are really curious, take it to a martial arts supply shop (most sell swords) and ask them if they can appraise it for you. they may charge you, or just take one look at it and tell you its crap. You have to decide. Posting pictures in and out of scabbard as well as closeups of the blade, hilt and fixings can help, but it is still not something you can really be sure about without looking at it directly.

Unless the fixings are made of plastic or the blade says "440 stailness steel" (or any kind of stainless steel) on it.

EDIT: this is what you would need to remove and replace the. The pins (likely called "mekugi" and from my japanese sword days that does kind of sound familiar).

http://bugei.com/product_701_detailed.htm

Answer 2

Full Tang Katana

Answer 3

Hi there

There are two real ways to be able to tell.

1. when you hold the katana by the handle where does the weight/ balance feel? does it feel like it is balanced at the tsuba ( the guard)? If so then its not full tang.

2. Most full tang swords can be dismantled so that it can be stripped down for cleaning. Does the handle look like the pins can be removed or are they plastic? If plastic then its not full tang.

Always find out if its full tang or not. And do not swing or try cutting with a sword that isn't. Blades do snap so easily.

Please be careful

regards

idai

Answer 4

Well a real katan will have one or two mekugi (pegs) and would be able to take apart with out you taking off the cord or ray skin. I got experience in this some katana with out pegs are either glued or have rat tail tangs you can check if it has pegs look at the handle if you see wood that looks like a circle on the handle thous are peg if not take off the pummel and see if it has a bolt and nut that wiold be a rat tail tang if none of thous are present than they glues it on which means its not full tang or real just a wall hanger, also real swords are a little thicker than wall hangers you'll tel the differance also real battle ready sword are around the $50 to more mark.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How do I tell if my katana is full tang or not?
Okay, so I was at this knife shop at a swap meet the other day and I picked up a katana. It was only 34 bucks. So I know that it's not any sort of real quality sword. But when I got it I didn't know much about them, but I've been reading about them on the internet. So now I'm...

Answer 6

Aside from taking it apart, the best way to find out is an X-ray. Bear in mind that 'full tang' is not a guarantee of quality either, since the character of the steel is also a factor.

Answer 7

If it's the real deal then you can push a peg or two out of the handle and see. However what you have is not the real deal. Use a magnet.

Answer 8

see if magnets stick to the blade. then get a strong one and see if it sticks to handle. hmm, maybe a mettle detector. I'd say take it to the airport and have it xrayed but they probably wouldn't like that.